Food is one of my favorite things. Turns out, I can’t live without it. But as much as I love food, there will always be some foods that stand out as some of the best things I’ve ever had to eat.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to some of my favorites:
Cafe Tu Tu Tango, Orlando
Pears on Pecan Crisps – My mouth waters when I think about eating this.
My favorite part of Cafe Tu Tu Tango is that it’s a funky tapas style restaurant, where you order a bunch of stuff and everyone shares. My least favorite part of Cafe Tu Tu Tango is that my family expects me to share this dish.
Imagine oven roasted pears, done to a juicy perfection, just long enough to bring out the incredible sweetness. Place the pears on top of a crisp, wafer thin type of cracker made from pecans, add a fresh arugula and bleu cheese salad, then drizzle the whole thing with a balsamic glaze. I know – you’re drooling now too, right?
There are so many flavors in the dish, that you wonder how it’s all going to come together, but the harmony of sweet, tangy, crispy and creamy is music in your mouth.
Elements Cafe, Haddon Heights, NJ
Cinnamon Ice Cream – You know that phrase “To Die For”? It was invented after tasting this ice cream!
Chef Fred at Elements Cafe is a tapas genius. We’ve eaten at Elements five or six times, and every meal is more memorable than the last. The fact that this is another tapas style restaurant would have you believe that with the appetizer sized portions that I’m sharing with my family, there would be plenty of room for dessert, but there almost never is. But whatever else you eat, leave room for the cinnamon ice cream.
The ice cream conjures up memories of fall, and family, and home. Sweet, with the spice of the cinnamon, cold and creamy – it’s like a grown up version of your favorite treat from childhood. The ice cream is usually paired with some other spectacular dessert, but this stands alone. I wish I had some right now.
Bruno’s Restaurant and Pizza, Haddonfield, NJ
Roasted Red Pepper Gnocchi with Seafood
There should be a picture of this dish here, but every time we’ve gotten it, it’s been gone before I remember that I don’t have a picture of this work of art!
Bruno’s was our favorite local pizza shop for years before we ventured in to sit down for dinner. We’ve always listened intently to the list of specials, and each time we’ve gone, we order from the specials list.
That’s where we first met roasted red pepper gnocchi. I have to tell you, Jim has never been a fan of gnocchi, and now we know why. What we were used to were heavy, gummy, and flavorless lumps of pasta. What you’ll find at Bruno’s are flavorful, delicious, and topped with the freshest shrimp and the meatiest pieces of crabmeat. I could never eat the entire dinner by myself, but even with Jim and I sharing, we always have some left over for lunch the next day – how could this not be a favorite?
Adding to the whole experience, you’ll often see the man himself, shaking hands as patrons walk into his restaurant, and the waitstaff are friendly and fun, and they make you feel like you’re part of the family. What could be better than having one of your favorite meals in one of your favorite family restaurants?
Let me know what some of your food favorites are. I have a whole list – and I’m sure I’ll be sharing again soon!
